Life-saving pledge

2 November 2007

Executives in East Lancashire PCT have vowed to save a million years of life by 2012.

The problem of health inequalities in the area means people could die before their time, said the PCT. GPs in the area spend 60 per cent of surgery time listening to depressed patients whose lives are hampered by crime and deprivation, said PCT chairwoman Kathy Reade. The pledge was signed by NHS chief executive David Nicholson, Kathy Reade and chairman of NHS North-west SHA Sir David Henshaw.